Hop-Ocalypse
Clay Pipe Brewing Company

Hop-OcalypseHop-Ocalypse
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Clay Pipe Brewing Company
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
6%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.53 | pDev: 13.31%
Reviews:
117
Ratings:
122
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 19, 2015
Added:
Aug 04, 2006
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MaltyGoodness:
Photo of MaltyGoodness
Reviewed by MaltyGoodness from Pennsylvania

3.77/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz. bottle

Pours a slightly chill-hazed orange amber with a small white head that thins. Nice lacing on the glass.

Aroma is very grainy with a layer of piney hops. It really smells too malty for an IPA, but the grainy smell is quite fresh and inviting.

Tastes like it smells. Lots of grainy/malty flavors upfront with a slight bitter bite leading into a rather mild piney hop flavor. Finishes on the grainy side with a lingering bitterness. Very fresh tasting, but I gotta knock the score back a bit as it's not really an American IPA..

Medium body, good carbonation.

Let me first say that I really enjoy the grainy taste of this beer. It's just really not an IPA, and I had to lower the taste score as it really doesn't fit the style. Hop heads will be disappointed - the name is misleading. However, re-badge this sucker an an American amber (such as Troeg's Hopback Amber), and it's a great beer for that style.
Sep 24, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3 by jrob21 from North Carolina

Nov 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by snowghetto from Maryland

Dec 23, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by ROGUE16 from Delaware

Dec 05, 2011
 
Rated: 3.25 by bigred89 from Maryland

Dec 03, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by onedogtwodog from Texas

Nov 29, 2011
Photo of Gavage
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

3.08/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Appearance: pours a dark ornage color with a 2" head that breaks apart quickly. Some spotty lace paints the glass.

Smell: soft pine and woody aroma rises fromthe glass.

Taste: bready caramel, grapefruit, pine, and a biting bitterness. Some tart green grape flavors show up late.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer but a bit thin overall. Lightly crisp to start, smoother and dry at the finish. Long aftertaste here.

Drinkability: this is an average IPA that comes across a bit more biting and unbalanced. One bottle was enough for my session.
Jul 23, 2010
Photo of u2carew
Reviewed by u2carew from Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A) Pours with a thin head that settles quickly. The body is copper in color with just smidge of haze. Lacing is this and semi-sticky.
S) Fruity esters - pear, hint of melon.
T) Upfront mellow malt tones - caramel with with toasted touches. Midway through the hops come in with a bitter bite. In the finish the malt sweetness fades and the hops win out.
M) Crisp. Fizzy. Looks medium body but a bit thin.
D) A decent brew. I think I'd have another one.
May 31, 2010
Photo of deereless
Reviewed by deereless from Colorado

2.85/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A: Three inches of head on top of a half inch of beer - something with the carbonation is a little off, the head is thick and creamy and leaves a few specks of sticky foam along the interior of the glass, deep gold to copper in color - 2.75, S: Extremely earthy and herbal aroma, faint smell of iced tea, smells very much like many of the English IPAs that I know - 3.00, T: There are hops on the tongue but for an IPA is teeters on side of strong pale ale, like the nose the palate reminds me of an English IPA, some grapefruit zest and woodiness to the flavor profile, little to no discernible sweetness - 2.75, M: A little staying power on the tongue - 3.50, D: A slight disappointment in terms of an American IPA, hop bite but not what I look for in the style - 2.75
Mar 25, 2010
Photo of al3
Reviewed by al3 from Maryland

3.11/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A - Cloudy orange amber, lotsa lacing, thin frothy top sticks around for the duration. Probably one of the coolest labels I've seen.

S - a bit subdued, some citrus, creamy, bready aromas.

T&M - also a bit understated (considering the name) some grapefruit, a bit piney and some smooth bready flavors. Bitter and tangy on the finish. Feel is about what I'd expect, medium, not too thin, fits the flavor

D - Drinkable, but I've had better IPA's

This was a decent beer, expected a little more "punch in the face" from name and label. I would try it again on draft if I had the chance.
Mar 22, 2010
Photo of TurdFurgison
Reviewed by TurdFurgison from Ohio

2.68/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12oz bottle bought in Washington DC, $2.00. The beer is clear, dark orange shade of copper, off-white head that started at 1 finger and ended at film thickness. Much more balanced with malts than I'd like, especially for a beer named "Hop-Ocalypse". Caramel malts too... The taste is the same as the smell, lots of caramel malt, some zesty citrus but not enough for what was implied by the name.

Overall a disappointment for me. It shouldn't be hard to make a good IPA, evidenced by the dozens upon dozens you can find everywhere in the USA.
Mar 12, 2010
Photo of NJpadreFan
Reviewed by NJpadreFan from New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clay Pipe- Hop-ocalypse.

Thanks to adamharbaugh for ths 1!

A- Slightly hazy orange/amber brown with a thick chunky light tan head. Good head retention and lacing.
S- Very sweet/ sugary fruit; grapefruit and orange with molasses malt and earthy hops. Crisp pine and mint aroma.
T- Strong sugary sweet citrus hops; grapefruit and lemon rind. Sticky molasses malt with a sweet and bitter earthy pine hop finish.
M- Very thick and malty sweet. Big pungent bitter hops.

Overall- Big pungent hops and thick malt. Maybe not an actual "Hop"acolypse on the taste buds but a good sweet IPA.
Feb 16, 2010
Photo of HURTemHIZZY
Reviewed by HURTemHIZZY from Virginia

3.63/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Nice looking ipa. big head as expected, decent lacing, nice amber color. Smell and taste is a bit subdued. Definitely hoppy, but fairly mild to be given the name hop-ocalypse. Like the pine presence, just could do for a bit more to it. A bit thin, but nice level of carbonation.
Feb 15, 2010
Photo of ledzepp817
Reviewed by ledzepp817 from Maryland

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from a bottle in a pilsner glass on 11/21.

Got this bottle from a local beer store. The name itself is intriguing and I love a hoppy IPA.

Appearance - good solid dark red amber color , the way an IPA should look.

Aroma - smelled great, citrus and earthy with the hops definitely present.

Taste - the taste is where it came up short. Don't get me wrong, it was a great tasting beer, but it did not contain that amount of kick from the hops as the name would suggest.

Drinkability - good, i could drink a few of these at one sitting.

OVerall, very good beer, would definitely have again.
Nov 23, 2009
Photo of mjl21
Reviewed by mjl21 from California

3.63/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Acquired via trade...thanks Josh. 12 ounce bottle poured into a snifter. No abv info is given. Bottling code of 307FX09.

A-Pours a clear amber that has some orange highlights. When poured the head is quite clumpy in one corner of the glass and very thin in the other portion. As it sits the head begins to dissipate and eventually encircles the top of the beer. Plenty of bubbles can be seen rising from the bottom.

S-It has some citrus, grapefruit and orange being the dominant citrus aromas. There is a touch of booze that is evident. As it warms it does get sweeter.

T-Like the nose, the orange and grapefruit citrus come out quickly, along with some lemon. The citrus is quickly replaced by sweet malt. I found it to be a tad metallic midsip. As it goes down I get some definite biscuit malt flavor which helps give it a crisp and dry finish.

M-Medium bodied with sharp carbonation.

D-Not a bitter bomb like the artwork would lead you to believe. I did like the fact that it was not another sweet East Coast IPA.

Not a bad beer. I would like to try it fresh from the tap. It is not overly heavy and went quickly.
Nov 22, 2009
Photo of sholland119
Reviewed by sholland119 from Pennsylvania

3.16/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
A-Pours a clear orange amber with a generous amount of off white head and some sticky lacing.

S-Not bad. A little underdone on the hop side with just a light orange rind note. Some mildly bready and slightly sour malt.

T-A bit lacking in character. Some orangey hop flavors and just a bit of malt backing. Not much there though.

M-Medium bodied with good fine carbonation.

D-Drinkable enough but I would not seek this one out again.

HV
Nov 11, 2009
Photo of alysmith4
Reviewed by alysmith4 from District of Columbia

2.66/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Decent beer, a good representation of this style. It's very similar to Longhammer IPA though, very similar. Poured a nice golden body with a half-inch head. Smell was of grain, hops, sugar, and straw. Tasted like a nice, well-balanced IPA with a lot of nice, juicy, hop flavor. Carbonation was average. Would have this beer again, but not my favorite.
Nov 07, 2009
Photo of TLove
Reviewed by TLove from District of Columbia

3.82/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I see that many of my respected colleagues have stated in their reviews that they have chosen to rate this beer down because it didn't live up to its name. To an extent, I agree, however, we must try not to allow the integrity (or lack thereof) of the name to factor into our ratings.

That being said, my rating is as follows:

Appearance is an orange-ish color with a cream head and bubbly head with moderate to good retention. Smells of raisin, orange, and strong Centennial and Cascade hops. The taste is noticeably well-balanced with a strong malt structure, however, there is not a brown ale malt or caramel malt. It is lighter than it might otherwise seem. Crisp and fruity. Citrus tones with very mineral and light body with some caramel tones. Again, not overwhelmingly bitter or super hoppy as its title would suggest, but quite smooth, well-balanced, not too strongly carbonated and finished pretty well.
Nov 05, 2009
Photo of meatyard
Reviewed by meatyard from Florida

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours out a hazy, well-carbonated amber/orange with a 2-finger+, white head that has good retention and leaves splotchy lacing.
Smells of sweet oranges.
The taste starts off briefly with the orange but quickly hits a very bitter note followed by lightly sweet malt that lingers along with the bitterness.
Mouthfeel is light with consistent carbonation and is dry.
There's no problem drinking a few of these as long as the bitterness suits you.

I like the aroma even though all I got was orange. I would've preferred more of the orange in the taste and less of the bitterness. Maybe a couple of tweaks and this could be a very fiine IPA
Nov 04, 2009
Photo of Ralphus
Reviewed by Ralphus from Canada (ON)

3.8/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
I was in St. Michaels Maryland on a sailing trip when, walking through a beer isle at a grocery store, I caught sight of Hopacalypse from Clay Pipe. The marketing was too great.. I had to get it, despite knowing nothing about it. Later that evening as my parents and I tried to remember the name we came up with some other good ones.. Hopaholic and Hopageddon. Marketing is all powerful.

In any case this beer pours very well. A vibrant red orange colour that really stands out. The head dissapates to a small ring leaving behind some lacing. I found the smell contained a good dose of piney hops and fruit flavour. Nice.

The taste was a complex mix of sweet malt, fruits and dominant hops with a long bitter finish. I found the finish, while suiting the title of the beer, detracted somewhat from it's drinkability.

Mouthfeel however was good. Smooth with a refreshing bite from the carbonation. Overall I'm glad to have picked this up as I didn't see it anywhere else on my travels.
Oct 17, 2009
Hop-Ocalypse from Clay Pipe Brewing Company
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 122 ratings